SCIENCE AND RELIGION
The difficulties between religion and science have emerged in the last four
centuries.
These two has increasingly become competitive even conflicting.
The Big Bang Theory (SCIENTIFIC THEORY)
Forms the latest understanding of creation.
It is not known what existed before the Big Bang theory.
The theory does not mention any creator.
The theory states that there was an enormous explosion in space, within a
second the universe appeared and expanded to an enormous size.
The big bang happened 13, 7 billion years ago.
The theory states that the process of creation took a split second.
Small temperature differences in the initial explosion results in the
formation of matter and energy.
The matter condensed and formed the stars and galaxies.
Scientists believe that the universe is still expanding.
It is not known whether or how the universe will end.
DARWIN’S THEORY OF EVOLUTION
All forms of life including humans are connected and go back to a human
origin.
It asserts that humans have evolved from an ancestor shared with apes.
Darwin’s theory consists mainly of the following ideas:
1. Species contain a great variety of minor differences.
2. In the fight for survival, better adapted variations will be favored while
those that are not fit will struggle to survive.
3. This applies to humans as well.
4. In the fight for survival, humans adapted and gradually change from apes to
human beings.
5. The process of change and adaption happened over a very long period of
time.
6. Both the world and species change overtime.
7. Life evolves in a process leading from simple to complex
8. The various forms of life did not appear perfectly formed but developed
overtime.
9. The theory of evolution says that humans are not created by a religious
being but evolved from apes.
Responses of religions to the theory of Evolution
Christianity
No doubt that God created the universe as part of his divine plan for
humanity.
There is no connection between the traditional Christians and the theory of
evolution.
Genesis describes how God created the world in seven days.
God created perfect human beings and gave them authority to rule and
manage the world.
God created Adam and Eve thus there seems to be no place for the theory
of evolution in creation.
Christianity reject that man evolved from lower life forms as the Bible
speaks of Adam and Eve as the first human beings.
However, there is connection between the theory of evolution and
liberal/progressive Christians.
They argue that everything in the universe was created by God and the
process of evolution is also part of the Divine Plan. (it is referred as
intelligent design)
They say God was responsible for the Big Bang.
Progressive Christians accept the idea of guided/ theistic evolution, and add
that the creation myth must be seen as symbolic.
JUDAISM
Creation is explained in the book of genesis.
He created human beings as Centre piece of creation.
Creation took six days and started by separating light from the dark.
The universe was made from nothing.
God created Adam and Eve who were the first humans.
They were made from clay.
Islam
There is one perfect God.
He created Heaven and Earth and all that is in it.
The first Human was Adam who God made from clay.
God breathed his spirit to Adam and he came to life.
Eve (Hawwa) was created from Adam’s rib.
The Humans were given the highest status of all God’s creation.
Bahai Faith
God created the universe and humanity is supreme among its creatures.
Human beings with their natural powers are able to conquer the world.
The world and what is in it is not worthy of attachment.
Humans are continually reminded that they must detach themselves from
things of this world.
The world is one place, the home of all humankind.
African Traditional religion
In A.T.R the idea of a personal God as a creator is not a central belief.
A.T.R believers would not have a problem with evolution and big bang
theory.
The Divine is distinct and beyond the human comprehension.
As a result in A.T.R, there are varying creation myths.
One such myth is of Umvelingangi / Mwali, he emerged from the reed
alongside a river and created human beings, cattle and other resources.
Hinduism
Have no problem with the theory evolution because the universe is based
on evolution.
Hinduism is the only religion that shows relationship to Charles Darwin’s
theory.
They have a more advanced theory of evolution than the scientific theory
that is based on the physical.
Hinduism provides a more comprehensive view because it includes the
spiritual.
Scientists see evolution as a process that happens by chance.
Good life leads to gradual evolution to advanced forms.
Ultimately you will achieve liberation from the physical and become one
with God.
Darwin’s theory did not create a conflict with Hindu thought and belief for
it contributed to the understanding of evolution towards moksha.
Hindus believe that there is an intelligent designer behind everything like
evolution of humanity and of the universe.
Buddhism
They agree with the theory of evolution.
Buddhism does not have an account of creation. They do not mind what
scientists say about the universe and how humans came into being.
Believe that all life involves constant transformation and evolution.
Buddhists believed in evolution long before Western Scientists did.
They have no problem with the idea that human beings may have evolved
from more primitive (ape like form).
TAOISM
Everything in creation consists of two forces.
The young is active, light and forceful and male.
The yin is passive, dark, yielding and female.
All the world’s processes are made up of two forces (Yin and Yang).
The universe rocks endlessly between opposites like these.
The yin and yang are present.
One and not one are two. The one comes from the two which means path.
It stands simply for the creator in the western or even Hindu.
There is nothing about in the beginning and at the end unlike the Hindu and
Abrahamic religions account.
The Taoists account simply talks about how things get made and does not
speculate as when it started, whether there was a time before it or when it
will stop.
Everything comes from nothing.
The relationship between Science and Religion
Science is something human beings have done in all cultures.
It is an old relationship, trouble began as evidence grow against old
theories.
The new ideas seemed to challenge the Christian view of God’s perfection
and this reason of creation.
Many people predicted that Darwin’s idea about evolution would mean the
end of the religion.
Scientists claim that the universe came into existence by accident.
Religions do not provide facts but belief is accepted according to religious
teachings.
Science has some evidence of evolution however there are still some
missing links in the evidence.
COMPARE THE SCIENTIFIC AND THE RELIGIOUS ACCOUNTS OF HOW THE
UNIVERSE CAME INTO BEING
The Big Bang theory teaches that there was enormous explosion from
which the different planets were formed.
This happened about 13, 7 billion years ago.
Small temperature differences in the initial explosion led to varying
densities through the universe.
These eventually formed into clusters of matter and energy.
The clusters continued to condense in a lumpy way and formed the vast
collection of stars called galaxy.
Some of the lumps in galaxies condensed into a combination of stars and
planets.
Earth was formed about 4, 5 billion years ago.
Traditional religions maintain that the universe was created perfect.
In Abrahamic religions the creator is male.
At first, only the creator exists. The creator then makes the universe from
nothing.
Abrahamic religions believe that God / Allah / Yahweh created the universe
in six days.
For Hindus the creator exists in either active or passive state.
The passive state is a state of rest when nothing happens.
At rest, the universe has no form is undifferentiated and “flat” all over.
After a long time, the creator stirs and become active. This is when the
creation begins.
Hinduism upholds both physical and spiritual evolution but science is
limited to physical evolution.
To what extend does the theory of evolution challenge a religious outlook of
life?
Darwin’s theory of evolution provided an alternative explanation of
creation which differs from the Abrahamic religious explanation of creation.
This theory also provided an explanation that did not require the idea of an
intelligent designer.
The influence of this theory challenged the authenticity of the sacred texts
as a message from God.
Most people started to treat the genesis account of creation as symbolic.
This theory caused those who believed in the Abrahamic religions to
interrogate the sacred texts more closely.
Darwin’s theory provoked religious people to study science.
Religions responded with the concept of “intelligent design”, to explain the
variation in species.
Eastern religions, such as Hinduism and Taoism, are unaffected by Darwin’s
theory.
This is because they lay emphasis on right beliefs, and attach more
importance to right action.
Hinduism believes in the evolution of the soul.
In Taoism humans have no special status, and are merely a result of Yin and
Yang.
WITH REFERENCE TO THE TEACHINGS OF ANY ONE RELIGION, EXPLAIN HOW THE
UNIVERSE CAME INTO BEING.
ABRAHAMIC RELIGIONS
Abrahamic religions believe in creation as narrated in their holy scriptures.
They believe that the universe was created by a creator called God
/Allah/Elohim.
The creator is male.
At first only the creator existed and then made the universe.
The universe is separated from the creator.
God created the universe in six days.
The first two humans were Adam and Eve.
They were created in the image of God.
At the end of time, the universe that we see will be replaced by something
perfect after judgment day./the universe is not permanent.
Hinduism
To Hindus, the universe is the creator.
The creator has existed and will exist all the time.
The creator has no limitations and therefore is not ‘he ‘she or anything.
The creator exists in either an active or passive state.
The passive state is a state of rest when nothing happens.
At rest the universe has no form, and is undifferentiated.
After a long time, the creator stirs and become active, this is when some
parts of the universe are different from other parts and ‘creation’ begins.
Reasons why certain religions objected strongly to Darwin’s teachings.
Prior to 1859, it was only religion that explained the existence of man and
the universe.
For example, the Book of Genesis in the Bible details how God created the
universe, as well as man.
Darwin’s theory of evolution provided an alternative explanation of
creation, which differs from Abrahamic religious explanation of creation.
This theory further provided an explanation that did not require the
existence of a Supreme Being.
Darwin’s theory also relegated man to being just another animal that had
evolved from apes.
Most religions, however, give a special status to man.
In the Abrahamic faiths, man is said to be created in the “image of God.’’
The influence of this theory challenged the authenticity of the sacred texts
as a message from God.
Most people started to treat the Genesis account of creation as symbolic.
Eastern religions, such as Hinduism and Taoism were unaffected by
Darwin’s theory.
This is because they lay less emphasis on right beliefs, and attach more
importance to right action.
Reasons for the popularity of Darwin’s theory in modern day society.
Religion is seen as divisive and exploitative.
Many wars and other conflicts have been blamed on religion.
With the development of printing, mass education and more recently,
social media, the public have developed confidence to be independent
thinkers.
They have faith in their own powers of reasoning to question religious
doctrine.
Also, Darwin’s theory of evolution is taught in schools as part of the
curriculum.
Recent scientific discoveries have contributed to the popularity of the
theory, e.g. the humanoid fossils found at Marupeng (cradle of human
kind).
It provides an alternative explanation to the religious point of view about
how man came into existence.
There is also a decline in religiosity (interest in religion).
The increase in scientific research which provides solutions to human
problems, results in people having more faith in science than in religion.
